Dec 20 1918

Friday 2 PM                                                                Dec 20-1918

                                                                                    Frondes France

My Dear Honey

    When I woke up this morning it was blowing like the dickens and it reminded me of X-mas morning at home but we had no snow.  When I got to the kitchen I was surprised, they gave me six letters four papers and best of all my Xmas box.  Just like xmas at home only I did miss you and the folks at home.  I first read your letters and the xmas cards also got Mother &Fathers, Code&Marg and Get Sm cards.  Was tickled to pieces over the card that Mother sent me.  I think it is a very good piece of petry and we boys have known all along that the people back home were behind us to the limit.  Also got a letter from DR witten Nov 27th, but I guess he is home by this time.  We had a little entertainment the other night.  A couple boys from the 24th Engineer gave us a few songs and jokes, they were very good.  We had a few flakes of snow yesterday but we mostly have rain and a hard wind is blowing all the time. I am sitting be side my bunk writing this letter, also we have a little stove which make us very comfortable.  This morning after reading the letters&paper I did my weekly wash also have had dinner and then took a bath.  I started out the other day for a walk to Lucy and Fuag but when I got to Lucy it started to blow colder and rain.  I kept on going and it kept raining harder so I thought I had better not go to Fuag, took the short cut across the field and got back in time for dinner.  I was soaking wet and I quickly changed my clothes for dry one.  Staid in all afternoon and yesterday I had to do most of the cooking as the first cook is off with a sore hand.  I had one of the student cook to help me and we got along very good.  Gee your soldier boy is getting to be SOME COOK.  I don't intend to eat my candy until xmas but the flash-light will start to work right away.  Xmas is my day to work but I don't know what we will have the same old thing I guess, with a little show in the evening.  We have a canteen of our own now, can buy cakes, cigarette, cigars, soaps and a few other things we need.  At at cost price.

Later  Ration coming in now, we get ration every ten days and bread and meat every three days.  We have not been working lately only chopping wood for the stoves.  The weather is bad and they don't work when it rains unless it absolutely needed.  Honey, you said I could go to Italy, but I have seen enough of Europe and would only be too glad  to get back home.  Enclosed you will find a few picture cards that I bought in my walk.  I have seen all these places and I will get more cards when pay-day comes which will be soon.  My salary as cook is $44 per; but I don't get all of it, get about half of it.  There are letters from 74 to 85 missing but I will get them soon I hope.  Well honey I have told you all the news and I want to write HWS before it get dark.  I will stop now and send to my daring wife all my love and a thousand kisses.

                                From her Soldier

                                        Hubby

                                            Clarence

Cook CR McCafferty

COB 47 Reg FC

American EF

France

PS  Was mistaken, we are not attached to no division, but was transfered to the 42 C. Trans Cop.

            Use old address

God made the private and rested.

God made the corporal and rested.

God made the sergeant

And neither the private or corporal

                            has rested since.